Acoustic device deployment system

ABSTRACT

An acoustic device deployment system including an acoustic device, a pad disposed upon the acoustic device, a device displacer operatively connected to the acoustic device that during use causes the device to move radially outwardly into contact with another structure.

BACKGROUND

In the resource recovery industry communication to various locations in the downhole environment can be difficult and many technologies have been developed therearound. One technology used in the industry is acoustic communication and it can be effective in certain scenarios but does not reach its potential due to attenuation losses inherent in the downhole environment. The art would well receive improvements to acoustic device deployment systems and methods that improve performance.

SUMMARY

An acoustic device deployment system including an acoustic device, a pad disposed upon the acoustic device, a device displacer operatively connected to the acoustic device that during use causes the device to move radially outwardly into contact with another structure.

A method for acoustically communicating in a wellbore radially through a tubular member including radially displacing an acoustic device having a pad thereon, contacting a surface of the tubular member with the pad, and deforming the pad to displace incidental air gaps between the device and the tubular member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of an acoustic device deployment system as disclosed herein in a run in position;

FIG. 1A is an enlarged portion of FIG. 1 showing one possible displacer configuration;

FIG. 1B is an enlarged portion of FIG. 1 showing one possible displacer configuration;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the first embodiment of the acoustic device deployment system as disclosed herein in a deployed position;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of an acoustic device deployment system as disclosed herein in a run in position;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the second embodiment of the acoustic device deployment system as disclosed herein in a deployed position;

FIG. 5 illustrated an iteration similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 but including a pivot pin; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a wellbore system having an acoustic deployment system as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an acoustic device deployment system 10 is illustrated schematically. The system 10 includes an acoustic device 12 configured to transmit and/or receive acoustic energy and a pad 14 disposed thereon. The system further includes a displacer 16 and a ramp 18 (annular or part annular). The system may also feature a locating profile 20. Generally these components will be disposed upon a mandrel 22 and collectively being a portion of a downhole string, the balance of which is not specifically shown.

The displacer 16 is configured to move the device 12 toward and onto the ramp 18 thereby displacing the device 12 outwardly relative to the mandrel 22 of system 10. Displacer 16 may be a piston (See FIG. 1A) and may use as an impetus a hydraulic fluid source or an atmospheric chamber to drive the piston 17 a or may be a mechanical shifting tool 17 b (see FIG. 1B). In any event, the displacer 16 will be moved relative to the ramp 18 closing a gap between the displacer 16 and the ramp 18 and simultaneously pushing the device 12 up the ramp 18 and radially outwardly of the system 10. Ultimately it is the intent of the system 10 to place the pad 14 in direct loaded contact with a casing wall 24 of a borehole in which the system 10 is run. The pad may be constructed of a material that is conformable such that it will naturally displace incidental air gaps between the device 12 and the casing wall 24 with the material of the pad 14. Suitable materials include elastomers, soft metals (malleable metals having a low yield stress such as copper, aluminum, etc.) plastics, rubbers, etc. The displacement of air gaps between the device 12 and the casing wall 24 avoids the attenuation otherwise suffered buy the acoustic energy attempting to cross those air gaps and thereby improving the acoustic coupling and transfer through the casing.

In another embodiment of an acoustic device deployment system 110, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a similar acoustic device 112 is displaced radially outwardly due to an extension 116 acting as a displacer in concert with a mandrel 122. The mandrel 122 exhibits a recess 140 therein that extends radially inwardly from a radially outer surface 142 of the mandrel. The recess 140 is of a depth into the mandrel 122 that is related to the degree of radial displacement of which the system 110 is capable. The extension 116 is disposed in the recess 140 in FIG. 3 and represents a run in condition. As can be appreciated in FIG. 4, the recess 140 has been moved from radially inwardly of the extension 116 to a position where the extension 116 is no longer nested into the recess 140. The recess can be seen in FIG. 4 to be to the right of the extension 116. It will also be appreciated that the recess 140 includes a ramp 144 that assists in urging the extension 116 radially outwardly to then rest on the surface 142 of the mandrel 122. The device 112 and attendant pad 114 are radially displaced into contact with a casing as was the case in FIG. 2 displacing incidental air gaps with the material of the pad 114 and providing a significantly better acoustic coupling between the device 112 and the casing 124. In an iteration, referring to FIG. 5, the device 112 may be pivotally connected to another portion of the system 110 at pivot 146. While the pivot 146 is illustrated at an uphole end (left in the figure) it is to be appreciated that the pivot could alternatively be placed at the downhole end (right in the figure). Selection of which end the pivot might be on is only related to which direction one might want to move the device after deployment. If it is to be retrieved to surface, the pivot location as shown would be preferred with the device will tend to move radially inwardly naturally in that direction. If, on the other hand, the system 110 is to be moved further downhole then the pivot at the downhole end might be beneficial since movement in that direction would be aided by the pivot at the lower end. Again, the device 112 would naturally move radially inwardly with the system moving in the downhole direction.

The mandrel 122 may be shifted in a number of ways including mechanically and hydraulically.

Referring to FIG. 6, a wellbore system 200 includes a borehole 202 within a subsurface formation 204. The borehole has disposed therein a tubular member 206 extending along the borehole 202. Within the tubular member 206 is a deployment system 10 or 110 as disclosed above. The deployment system 10 or 110 facilitated acoustic communication through the tubular member 206.

Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing disclosure:

Embodiment 1: An acoustic device deployment system including an acoustic device, a pad disposed upon the acoustic device, a device displacer operatively connected to the acoustic device that during use causes the device to move radially outwardly into contact with another structure.

Embodiment 2: The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the pad is a conformable material.

Embodiment 3: The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the material is elastomeric.

Embodiment 4: The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the material is soft metal.

Embodiment 5: The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the displacer is a piston.

Embodiment 6: The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the piston is hydraulically actuated.

Embodiment 7: The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the displacer includes an atmospheric chamber acting on the piston.

Embodiment 8: The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the displacer is mechanically operated.

Embodiment 9: The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the displacer is an extension of the device disposed in a recess of a mandrel disposed radially inwardly of the device.

Embodiment 10: The system as in any prior embodiment wherein a ramp is disposed on at least one of the extension and the mandrel.

Embodiment 11: The system as in any prior embodiment wherein shifting of the mandrel causes radial displacement of the device.

Embodiment 12: A method for acoustically coupling to a casing including radially displacing an acoustic device having a pad thereon, and deforming the pad to displace incidental air gaps between the device and the casing.

Embodiment 13: The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the displacing is by forcing the acoustic device up a ramp with a piston.

Embodiment 14: The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the displacing is by forcing the device up a ramp by shifting a mandrel relative to the acoustic device.

Embodiment 15: A method for acoustically communicating in a wellbore radially through a tubular member including radially displacing an acoustic device having a pad thereon, contacting a surface of the tubular member with the pad, and deforming the pad to displace incidental air gaps between the device and the tubular member.

Embodiment 16: The method as in any prior embodiment further including coupling acoustic energy from the device to the tubular member.

Embodiment 17: The method as in any prior embodiment further including transmitting the acoustic energy through the tubular member.

Embodiment 18: A wellbore system including a borehole, a tubular member in the borehole, and an acoustic device deployment system as in any prior embodiment disposed within the tubular member.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, it should be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity).

The teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of well operations. These operations may involve using one or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids resident in a formation, a wellbore, and/or equipment in the wellbore, such as production tubing. The treatment agents may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, semi-solids, and mixtures thereof. Illustrative treatment agents include, but are not limited to, fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water, brine, anti-corrosion agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drilling muds, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc. Illustrative well operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam injection, water flooding, cementing, etc.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. 

1. An acoustic device deployment system comprising: an acoustic device; a pad disposed upon the acoustic device and between the device and another structure into which the pad is to come in contact; a device displacer operatively connected to the acoustic device that during use causes the device to move radially outwardly into contact with the another structure.
 2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pad is a conformable material.
 3. The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the material is elastomeric.
 4. The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the material is soft metal.
 5. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the displacer is a piston.
 6. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the piston is hydraulically actuated.
 7. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the displacer includes an atmospheric chamber acting on the piston.
 8. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the displacer is mechanically operated.
 9. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the displacer is an extension of the device disposed in a recess of a mandrel disposed radially inwardly of the device.
 10. The system as claimed in claim 9 wherein a ramp is disposed on at least one of the extension and the mandrel.
 11. The system as claimed in claim 9 wherein shifting of the mandrel causes radial displacement of the device.
 12. A method for acoustically coupling to a casing comprising: radially displacing an acoustic device having a pad thereon, the pad positioned between the device and the casing; and deforming the pad to displace incidental air gaps between the device and the casing.
 13. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the displacing is by forcing the acoustic device up a ramp with a piston.
 14. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the displacing is by forcing the device up a ramp by shifting a mandrel relative to the acoustic device.
 15. A method for acoustically communicating in a wellbore radially through a tubular member comprising: radially displacing an acoustic device having a pad thereon, the pad positioned between the device and the tubular member; contacting a surface of the tubular member with the pad; and deforming the pad to displace incidental air gaps between the device and the tubular member.
 16. The method as claimed in claim 15 further comprising: coupling acoustic energy from the device to the tubular member.
 17. The method as claimed in claim 16 further including transmitting the acoustic energy through the tubular member.
 18. A wellbore system comprising: a borehole; a tubular member in the borehole; and an acoustic device deployment system as claimed in claim 1 disposed within the tubular member. 